Seven Rules Guide to Buying a Fly Fishing Rod

Buying a fly rod can be easy. Doing it right takeswon’t stand behind its product?
some doing. Here are seven rules of buying right4) Buy the best you can afford. The price
the first time.difference between a good rod and a not-so-good
1) There is no “all condition rod,” justrod is usually small. If you can’t afford a
as there is no “one size fits all.”good rod—wait until you can.
When selecting a rod, buy one that will serve the5) Trust name brands. Well-known manufacturers
purpose you will mostly likely and most often useput their name on their equipment and will
it for. If you will fish small streams most of thegenerally avoid causing themselves harm by
time, and only fish lakes occasionally, opt for aproducing cheap products.
small stream rod. You will get the most6) Buy the blank, not the fittings. The blank is
satisfaction out of it the majority of the time.what makes the rod what it is, the fittings just
2) Choose one that fits your needs, not someoneadd to it. While nice fittings are, well—nice,
else’s. Regardless of who says what aboutthey don’t truly contribute anything to the
a rod, select one for you, not one some celebrity,action and life of a rod. Don’t be confused
friend or salesman thinks you should have. If itby shiny objects.
doesn’t suit you, it will be nothing but7) Cost does not equal value. There are plenty of
trouble and you will be unhappy with it.affordable rods on the market that will suit the
3) Buy only rods that have long or lifetimeaverage angler’s needs.
warrantees. Unwarranted rods will cost more inIn a nutshell: Opt for a name brand, warranted
the long run because you will have to buy newrod that suits most your needs and you
when you eventually break it.can’t go wrong.
Additionally—why trust a rod maker that